Isa A. Munaiev

He was called up for military service, fought in Afghanistan for 2 years. Later, while serving in central Russia, he held the position of captain of the OMON. When the First Chechen War began, Isa resigned and went to defend his homeland. He was immediately awarded the rank of major in the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. During the First Chechen War, Munayev was the commander of the 1st Assault Battalion named after Lema Munayev, holding the rank of police colonel. In the years between the wars, he led the Air Force of the Zavodskoy District of Grozny. In 1999, Aslan Maskhadov appointed Munayev as the commandant of the city of Djohar (formerly Grozny). After the start of the Second Chechen War, he managed the preparation of Grozny for defense. Thanks to his skillful leadership, experience, and intuition, Isa preserved his unit during the withdrawal from Grozny — losses in his unit were minimal. Later, in 2001, General Isa Munayev was appointed commander of the Southwestern Defense Sector. The heroism and courage that Isa displayed while defending his homeland with arms in hand were recognized with state awards from Ichkeria: the Order of "Honor of the Nation" (in Chechen, Order "K'oman Siy"), the Order of "Heroes of the Nation" (in Chechen, Order "K'oman Turpal"), the Order of "Defender of the Fatherland" (in Chechen, Order "DaimekhkanbIаьхо"), and the Medal of "Defender of the City of Grozny" (in Chechen, Midal "Grozny gIalin bIаьхо"). After a serious injury in 2007, he was evacuated from Chechnya. He received political asylum in Denmark and engaged in active socio-political activities to highlight the war crimes of Russia in the Caucasus. During his 5 years in the European country that granted him political asylum and citizenship, Isa was not just a foreign refugee: he learned the Danish language and had many friends among the Danes. When it became clear that Russia had attacked Ukraine and that hostilities would only expand, Isa Munayev, who was then in Denmark, decided to immediately form a volunteer unit and go to help the people of Ukraine. Here's what Isa himself says in one of his interviews: "After Russia, violating all norms and principles of international law, treacherously invaded the territory of sovereign Ukraine, taking advantage of its difficult political and economic situation, which resulted in the annexation of the Crimean territory, we made the decision to form an international peacekeeping battalion of volunteers named after the hero of the Caucasus, Dzhokhar Dudayev." Throughout the time, since August 2014, when Isa actively helped the Ukrainian military on the front lines with his fighters, there were no losses among his soldiers. Boris Filatov, a member of the Ukrainian parliament: "I think, my friend, that you are not offended. You are not offended by your life, nor by your death, nor by your comrades. In the dull and pastoral Denmark, you found no place for yourself, like a lion in a cage, yearning for justice and revenge. In Ukraine, you found both. The inhuman beings who seized your small but proud country tried to erase your name, your deeds, your struggle from the memory of your people. But you did not let them do that. Today, the parliament of a 45-million country rose and honored your memory live on air. We will remember you always: a deeply believing Muslim, and at the same time a very secular person. Calm, polite, dignified, steadfast, desperate, educated, intelligent. You did everything right. You defeated your enemies not only by the strength of your weapon but also by the strength of your Spirit. They are dust, roadside dirt, surgical waste, nameless garbage. And you are a Symbol not only of the Caucasian resistance but also of the national liberation struggle of Ukraine. Now, Isa, you are part of our history. You entered it as an undefeated hero. I wanted to tell you: 'Rest in peace.' But I know you will not rest peacefully. Because it will not be you. You will not be at peace until you take your revenge. You did everything right, my friend. Forgive us for not protecting you." Kalin Dimitrov, a Bulgarian volunteer: "Isa Munayev. May the Ukrainian land be your eternal resting place. May Allah reward you for your self-denial in the name of freedom and truth. I am proud to have known you. Peace be upon you, believers and Muslims, who lie here. Truly, if Allah wills, we will join you, and Allah will have mercy on those of us who left earlier and those who lingered. I pray to Allah for the salvation of both you and us!"